Chapter 426: Divine Realm
Chapter 426: Divine Realm
Chen Mu's gaze swept across the entire tree hollow, lingering only briefly on the central Spirit Pond.
Within this Spirit Pond lay the accumulated essence of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, a thousand years of rich and potent vitality and spirit energy that even left Chen Mu in awe. But what truly caught his attention was the faint golden glow at the deepest part of the pond, something even more precious than the Seekwood Spirit Liquid.
Without hesitation, Chen Mu strode towards the Spirit Pond.
Just as he approached the pond's edge, a sudden change occurred.
Within the tree hollow, the broken array foundation stones began to glow with strands of spirit light, weaving together in an instant to form a net that trapped Chen Mu in the center.
On one side of the Spirit Pond, Ling Ji, who had shown no signs of life, suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes. His lowered head lifted slightly, and although his body was still covered in cracks, these cracks now emanated strands of spirit light, resembling the patterns of heaven and earth, connecting to the array foundation stones throughout the tree hollow.
These strands of light converged on a single core—the Spirit Pond.
"Sacred Tree, slay this villain!" Ling Ji's raspy roar seemed to tear his wounds further, causing blood to flow from his mouth and nose. His eyes, fixed on Chen Mu, were filled with deep hatred.
If not for Chen Mu, this heavenly invasion would not have resulted in such heavy losses. If not for Chen Mu, Ling Huan would have had more time to guide him in his cultivation, passing on all his knowledge before his lifespan reached its limit.
But now, everything was gone.
Ling Huan was dead, and Ling Ji knew his own end was near. He couldn't possibly survive.
Without a Spirit Ancestor-level figure, perhaps the invaders from beyond would have less impact in a century, and some of the Spirit Folk might have survived unscathed. But if, in the next century, no new Spirit Ancestor were to be born, the Seekwood Heavenly Realm would surely fall, and the invaders from beyond would take control, no longer leaving any sanctuary for the Spirit Folk.
Ling Ji's heart was filled with deep resentment.
Even if it meant his death, he would take Chen Mu with him!
Swish!
Chen Mu's actions and reactions were swift. Though he seemed unprepared as he approached the Spirit Pond, he maintained a constant state of vigilance. As Ling Ji suddenly burst into action, Chen Mu swiftly retreated.
However, the spirit lines that spread out nearby were too fast, forming and entangling him within the blink of an eye. These lines couldn't inflict significant harm or completely restrain him, but they did slow his movements, preventing him from escaping the tree hollow immediately.
Almost instantly, Chen Mu's pupils narrowed.
He sensed a pervasive will, seemingly awakening from slumber, causing the heaven and earth he perceived to come 'alive.' His Heaven-Earth Domain momentarily failed, unable to contest control of the heavenly-earth laws with this will.
This will didn't resemble that of a living, conscious being; it seemed sluggish and crude, like a mindless machine. Its origin was unmistakable.
It was the will of the Seekwood itself!
Chen Mu had thoroughly examined the Seekwood before entering the forbidden ground, fearing that such a lifeform might possess self-awareness and intelligence like a 'Yao Wu'—a terrifying prospect. If one were to compare, it might surpass even the Tenth Stage Celestial Beast of the Great Xuan. Whether it would be considered Eleventh or Twelfth Stage was uncertain.
However, after careful examination, Chen Mu hadn't detected any obvious signs of consciousness from the Seekwood, which was why he had ventured inside.
As it turned out, this towering Seekwood did possess a will, but it wasn't as active or had been dormant for an unknown eternity.
At this moment, Ling Ji, at a terrible cost, had forcefully communicated with and guided the Seekwood's will, causing it to awaken and descend upon Chen Mu. The pressure Chen Mu felt in this instant was indescribable.
It was as if,
Standing atop the Cloudy Peak, gazing upon the vast firmament, one felt their insignificance.
The will of the Seekwood swept through Chen Mu's entire being, making him feel like he was facing a formidable enemy. His mental and physical state were stretched to their limits, and he summoned all his Aura Power to prepare for the impending terrifying attack.
"Die... Die..."
Ling Ji, covered in blood, couldn't stand. He sat there stiffly, blood seeping from the cracks in his body, creating a horrifying sight. His vitality flickered like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing.
In his eyes, as he looked at Chen Mu, there was a sense of vengeful satisfaction.
No one could resist the power of the Sacred Tree.
Even a Spirit Ancestor-level existence was like an ant before the Sacred Tree, which upheld the very fabric of heaven and earth.
Ling Ji had told him that the Sacred Tree possessed consciousness, but it had always been dormant. This revelation had shocked Chen Mu, as he had never sensed this, not even after reaching the Spirit Ancestor level.
However, Ling Ji had also warned him never to try and awaken the Seekwood's will unless absolutely necessary, as the consequences of doing so were unknown, even to him.
In this moment, the time has come for the inevitable.
These heretical outsiders have come to their world, wreaking havoc and slaughtering without restraint. The Sacred Tree will surely not let this go unpunished...
Zzzzz.
Ling Ji's thoughts abruptly halted as he witnessed the spirit lines, like spider webs, entangled around Chen Mu's body, suddenly fading and disappearing one by one. This wasn't under his control; the spirit power that formed the array's spirit lines was dissipating on its own.
Ling Ji stood frozen in place, but before he could react, a beam of emerald spirit light pierced through the void, striking his body and creating a gaping blood hole in his chest and abdomen.
"..."
Ling Ji slowly lowered his head, gazing at the blood hole in his body. Unable to support himself any longer, he collapsed into the pool of blood, his consciousness fading into oblivion with a lingering sense of bewilderment.
At this moment, all the spirit lines on Chen Mu's body had vanished. He could take a single step to exit the tree hollow, but instead of making any hasty moves, he stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the spot.
Although he could easily exit the tree hollow, he still lacked absolute confidence in escaping from this place. Moreover, the actions of the Seekwood Will puzzled him. After briefly observing him, it had immediately dispelled the spirit lines binding him, then swiftly adjusted its spirit power to annihilate Ling Ji on the spot.
As Chen Mu watched Ling Ji die with a bewildered expression, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
The Spirit Folk revered the Seekwood as the Sacred Tree, worshipping and honoring it. However, the Seekwood might not consider the Spirit Folk as its people, for their survival depended on parasitically absorbing the Seekwood's nourishment!
Ling Ji's body, almost entirely tempered by the Seekwood's spirit liquid, was known as the 'Spirit Ancestor's Body.' Perhaps, in the eyes of the Seekwood, this was the most detestable existence, and thus, it was swiftly eliminated.
Just as this thought flickered in Chen Mu's mind.
A voice suddenly resonated within his mind, not a transmission of spirit power, but a conveyance of soul intent. It sounded like a voice, but it was more direct than any spoken word or language—a pure intent.
Soul Intent Transmission—this was a method Chen Mu had never heard of before. Even among Heaven Person experts, those capable of transmitting sound over thousands of miles had never been known to directly convey intent at the soul level. Perhaps the soul strength of Heaven Person experts was at least one level inferior to that of the Seekwood Will.
"Human."
"I can let you leave safely, and you may take the resources here as you wish. But I need you to make a promise."
The Seekwood Will's intent was ancient and weathered, evoking a feeling in Chen Mu that he couldn't compare to any life he had ever encountered. Even Ling Huan, the ancient Spirit Ancestor who had lived for over a thousand years, couldn't match the Seekwood Will's sense of age.
"What promise?"
Chen Mu asked cautiously.
The Seekwood Will's intent reverberated in Chen Mu's mind: "Although I can sustain a heaven and earth within the void, I lack the power to travel far in the void. Once you enter the Divine Realm, if you choose to follow the Void Lineage, when your understanding of the void reaches a sufficient level, return here and help me return to my homeland..."
The intent conveyed a wealth of information, causing Chen Mu's consciousness to pause briefly.
First, there was the mention of a 'homeland.' Ling Huan, in his final moments, had also lamented about such a place. If Chen Mu's guess was correct, both the Spirit Folk and the Seekwood might originate from the same place—a world as vast as the Great Xuan Realm, or perhaps even more expansive.
Then, there was the mention of the 'Divine Realm' and the 'Void Lineage,' clearly indicating cultivation realms and paths. Whether in the Great Xuan Realm, the Outer Sea, or even within the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, Chen Mu had never heard of the 'Divine Realm.'
Of course.
In the eyes of ordinary mortals, the strength and abilities of Bone Marrow Purification Masters and Heaven Person experts were already akin to gods and buddhas. Many tales of divine beings and demons were, in fact, depictions of these Heaven Person experts in the eyes of mortals.
The eighth step of Body Tempering Martial Dao was the Blood Replacement Realm, but in the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, this realm was known as the 'Spirit Ancestor Realm.' Could it be that in some world, the Blood Replacement Realm was also called the 'Divine Realm'? Different names, but the same level?
In the novel, the ninth step of Body Tempering Martial Dao was the Divine Realm, and it was indeed above the Blood Replacement Realm. Perhaps that was the direction of the ninth step!
In Chen Mu's opinion, if someone could find the path beyond the eighth realm of Body Tempering Martial Dao and take that ninth step, they might truly break through the boundaries of mortality and become divine beings, a natural progression.
Additionally.
There was the Seekwood Will's mention of the 'Void Lineage.'
Previously, Chen Mu had discussed the secular martial arts with Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun, and he himself had some understanding of the void. However, he couldn't even begin to comprehend it, let alone master it.
But since the Seekwood Will mentioned the Void Lineage as a path of cultivation, it confirmed his previous deduction—or rather, it validated the judgments of many experts in the Great Xuan Realm, the Outer Sea, and even the Seekwood Heavenly Realm who had reached the Blood Replacement Realm or Heaven Person level. The void was indeed a power that could be comprehended and cultivated, like wind, thunder, water, and fire, but at a higher level.
(End)
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Chen Mu also fell into deep contemplation.
The Seekwood Will seemed to possess a wealth of information that he was unaware of, and these insights were invaluable. They were far more precious than any heavenly treasures or even the Seekwood Spirit Liquid, so much so that even celestial beings would desire them. But the question was, was he in a position to inquire about such matters?
The Seekwood Will hoped that he would reach the so-called Divine Realm, and even comprehend the Void Lineage, attaining supreme power before assisting it in returning to a certain place. But what if he had no understanding of the Divine Realm or the Void Lineage at all?
After a brief moment of deliberation, Chen Mu made a decision, opting for a more cautious approach.
"Alright, I can accept that."
"However, reaching such a realm is no easy feat, and the resources here are not of much use to me."
Chen Mu looked up.
Although he was unfamiliar with much of the information, the Seekwood Will's revelations gave him a rough idea of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm. It seemed that this place was likely connected only to the Great Xuan World, as there had been no mention of the Seekwood Heavenly Realm leading to other places. The Spirit Folk didn't know how many had been interrogated by the Tide Listening Cliff, and there was no news regarding any other connections.
The existence of the Seekwood Will had remained unknown for over a thousand years, and given the previous situation, it could be deduced that the Seekwood had been in a long slumber. Perhaps, for it, maintaining this void to sustain its physical form was no easy task.
Chen Mu, on the other hand, was a Martial Body at the peak of the Seventh Realm, a foundation that was impossible to find in the Great Xuan World. Even in a broader world, his foundation would likely be considered 'genius.' This was why the Seekwood Will had taken the initiative to communicate with him, believing that he had a certain probability of reaching a certain height in the future, and thus wanted to make a deal with him.
This also meant that he could negotiate terms, to some extent. Although the situation was not in his favor, and he was being coerced, the information revealed also indicated that the Seekwood Will's situation wasn't much better.
"..."
After hearing Chen Mu's words, the Seekwood Will fell silent for a brief moment.
A moment later, the ancient and weathered thoughts of the Seekwood Will resurfaced in Chen Mu's mind.
"Indeed, at your level of cultivation, the resources here are useless to you. But... this will be of use to you."
A buzzing sound reverberated, and the Spirit Pool at the center of the tree canopy rippled, causing the Seekwood Spirit Liquid to part ways on either side. From the bottom center, a pale golden vine emerged, extending from the Seekwood's root system.
On the vine, a tiny, unripe Spirit Fruit, no larger than a fingertip, grew.
A sizzling sound filled the air.
In the next instant, a large amount of Seekwood Spirit Liquid was manipulated by an unseen force, channeled into the pale golden vine. The vine glowed with golden radiance, and the unripe Spirit Fruit grew at a visible pace, quickly transforming from the size of a fingertip to a fist within a short time. Its color changed from unripe to a deep red, and as the entire fruit turned crimson, everything came to a halt. The Spirit Pool seemed to have lost nearly three thousand pounds of Seekwood Spirit Liquid!
"Your soul is somewhat weak. The 'Vital Fruit' nurtured by my ancient vine can temper your body and soul. Tempering your body may not be of much use to you, but tempering your soul will be beneficial... There should be another fruit on my ancient vine, but it seems it was picked before it fully matured, otherwise, I could give you both." The Seekwood Will continued.
Right after, the deep red, nearly ripe, and peculiar Spirit Fruit detached from the pale golden vine, floating through the air and landing in Chen Mu's outstretched hand.
He looked at the Spirit Fruit in his hand, and without even perceiving it, an invisible fragrance filled his heart, calming his soul. Instinctively, he could tell that this fruit was extraordinarily precious.
Moreover, the matters mentioned by the Seekwood Will gave Chen Mu some clarity.
No wonder in the Seekwood Heavenly Realm, a world incapable of supporting Blood Replacement, a peerless figure like Spirit Huan could emerge. It seemed likely that the unripe Spirit Fruit mentioned by the Seekwood Will had been picked by Spirit Huan, allowing him to enter the Blood Replacement Realm, and even cultivate to the Celestial Boundary.
As for Ling Ji, he might have been assisted by Spirit Huan, who obtained an endless supply of Seekwood Spirit Liquid as resources. This eventually led him to complete that transformative step, reaching the Spirit Ancestor Realm. However, Ling Ji's achievement was more forced, as his physique was weaker than Spirit Huan's, and his realm was far inferior, falling short of the Celestial Boundary.
"Alright, if I can step into the Divine Realm and cultivate to a profound level in the Void Lineage, I will honor our agreement and return here to assist you in going back to your homeland." Chen Mu solemnly agreed, holding the peculiar Spirit Fruit.
This agreement didn't bind him; if he couldn't reach that level, it would be as if it didn't exist. But if he could, transporting the Seekwood would be a manageable task.
(End of Chapter)
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